Texas AG Investigates Catholic Charity Over Facilitating Illegal Immigration

The Texas Attorney General’s Office, led by Ken Paxton, has launched an investigation into Annunciation House, a Catholic-run charity in El Paso, Texas, accusing the organization of “planning and facilitating” the illegal crossing of migrants from Mexico into the United States.

According to court documents filed in El Paso County Court, Paxton’s office alleges that Annunciation House, which operates several shelters for migrants, has knowingly assisted individuals in evading Border Patrol enforcement. The accusation stems from reports of the charity sheltering migrants who may have crossed the Rio Grande without being processed by Border Patrol agents, including those who allegedly “avoided Border Patrol” out of fear of being sent back to Mexico.

“Annunciation House staff … made multiple admissions that they had assisted migrants in the past in the United States who had not surrendered to Border Patrol, had assisted persons in Mexico in crossing over to the United States in the past, and they intended to continue these activities in the future,” the court filings state.

Paxton’s office further claims that Annunciation House has been involved in transporting these migrants in vans and other vehicles to other locations across the country, including Colorado. In his lawsuit, Paxton asserts that this transportation may amount to human smuggling, a federal crime. The AG’s office argues that the charity’s actions create a “significant likelihood” that migrants who have entered the U.S. illegally are being hidden from authorities and further facilitated in their efforts to remain in the country without legal status.

Founded in 1978 by Ruben Garcia, a Catholic activist, Annunciation House has been a well-established fixture in El Paso, offering temporary shelter and humanitarian aid to thousands of migrants, primarily from Central America and Mexico.

The dispute over Annunciation House’s operations comes at a time of heightened political and legal scrutiny over the role of nonprofits and faith-based organizations in addressing the U.S.-Mexico border crisis. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pushed for stricter prosecution of organizations like Annunciation House, insisting that they encourage and facilitate illegal immigration. In 2022, Abbott called on Paxton to investigate whether these groups, often referred to as “border nonprofits,” are fueling the surge in migrant crossings.

While the faith-based groups, including Annunciation House, have argued that they are providing essential humanitarian aid, Paxton and other critics contend that these organizations are enabling migrants to bypass immigration laws, further exacerbating the crisis at the border.

The legal conflict between Paxton and Annunciation House has intensified, with the charity resisting demands to turn over records about its migrant clients. In July 2023, an El Paso district court ruled against Paxton’s request, controversially citing religious freedom protections under the U.S. Constitution.

The heart of the dispute lies in the tension between Annunciation House’s stated religious mission and the legal and political realities surrounding immigration. While the charity believes it is fulfilling a moral obligation to help the less fortunate, critics, including the Texas AG, argue that they’re incentivizing unlawful behavior and aiding human trafficking networks.

With more than 6.7 million migrant “encounters” reported during the Biden administration, the role of border nonprofits has come under increasing scrutiny. As the case progresses, other organizations may find themselves facing similar investigations into their involvement with migrants who enter the U.S. illegally.